Sluice gate



Oct. '24, 1944. H. A. MAYO SLUICE GATE Filed Oct. 14, 1942 a? i l3 2 4 Sheets-Sheet l Snncnt r H. A. MAYO Gttomeg Oct. 24, 1944. v H. A. MAYO SLUICE GATE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1942 Zmvcntor H. A. MAYO F 3 I W (a\' (Tttornelj Oct. 24,1944. H A M Y 2,360,961

SLUICE GATE F'iled Oct. 14, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3nventor H. A. MAYO (Ittorneg H. A. MAYO SLUICE GATE Oct. 24, 1944.

Filed Oct.. 14, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Envcufor Lhforucg Patented Got. 24, 144.

SLUICE GATE Howard A. Mayo, Bolton, Mass assignor to S.

Morgan Smith Company, York, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 14, 1942, Serial No. 462,065

8 Claims.

This invention relates to sluice gates.

. An object of the invention is to provide an improved sluice gate in which friction is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sluice gate inwhich the gate is equipped with antifrictional rollers arranged on the ends thereof and engaging tracks formed on the sluiceway.

Another object of the invention'is to provide an improved sluice gate structure in which the sluice is formed with a seat and the gate has a seal at the periphery thereoffor engaging said seat," the gate having aseries of wheels at the ends thereof adapted to run on tracks of the sluice, each wheel having an eccentric mounting by which the gate canbe shifted laterally with respect to its seat and counter to the opposing water pressure in'the sluice.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sluice gate of the above type in which the relative positions of the eccentric wheel mountings are adapted to be shifted by fluid pressure actuated means.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in-view, the invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is avertical section of a sluice gate structure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vi w of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the gate sealed to the wall;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the structure shown in Fig. 4, showing the gate unsealed; and

Figffi is a detail section of the control valve for the servo motors shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, the sluiceway l i has side walls l2, in each of which there is formed an upright channel l3.

In the present case only one side wall l2 and channel I3 of the sluiceway is shown, since the structure is symmetrical about the vertical center line of the gate. The sluiceway may be of any width and the gate may be of such width that the ends or vertical sides thereof are disposed within the channels 93, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Each channel 23 may be constructed of structural steel members embedded in concrete, and has an upstream wall i l, a downstream Wall I5 opposed to the Wall l i, and an inner wall ill which is perpendicular to the walls M. and i5.

Mounted on the downstream wall id is a vertically disposed rail H which constitutes a track. The rail ii is disposed intermediate the width of the face of the wall i5, and mounted on the face of the wall 45 and located adjacent to the edge thereof nearest the sluiceway, is a sealing strip 58. a I

Extending across the bottom of the sluiceway from channel it to channel it, is a sealing strip 59 on which the bottom of the gate rests when the gate is in lowered position (see Figs. 1 and 2). The gate is composed of marginal channel beams 2%, 2i and 22, with connecting cross I-channel beams 23 united to the ends 2! of the gate by welding, or otherwise, the whole being firmly secured together into a skeleton frame.

That face of the gate which in operation constitutes the front or upstream face has a skin plate covering of sheet steel 2 united to the skeleton frame by welding.

It will be understood, however, that other types of metal or even wood may be substitutedin some cases for the structural forms shown in the drawings. V

In the drawings, the channel beam constituting the top of the skeleton frame of the gate is indicated by reference numeral 20. The side or end channels are designated by the. reference numeral 2!, and the bottom channel is designated by the reference numeral 22.

Supported by the top channel 2d and disposed adjacent to the end of the gate, are means indicated at 25, by which cables of hoisting mechanism or the like (not shown) may be attached to the gate for the purpose of raising and lowering the gate in well known manner. 4 As shown best in Figs. 4 and '5 extending around the periphery of the downstreamv side of the gate is a sealing strip iii, adapted to engage the sealing strip is of the sluiceway structure heretofore described. 7 I Disposed within the channel it and supported from the sidechannels 2i of the gate, are rollers or wheels 25, adapted to run on the rails or tracks i'l.

Each wheel 26 is rotatably mounted on an axle ing 28 mounted thereon and constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 5, for receiving the main portion of the shaft 28.

The wheel axle portion 21 of the shaft 28 may be slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the portion of said shaft mounted in the bearing 28.

The end 36 of the shaft 28 opposite to the main portion of said shaft which is mounted in the bearing 29 is concentrically disposed with respect to the main portion of the shaft 28 and may be supported in a bearing 3| formed in a vertically disposed plate 32 arranged in parallel relationship with respect to the channel member 2| and rigidly connected to said channel by aplurality of cross pieces 33.

The axle 21 is eccentrically disposed with respect to the shaft 28 in the manner shown best in Figs. 3 and 5, so that when the shaft 28 is turned in its bearings 29, 3|, the axle 21 will move in an orbit therearound for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, fixed to an end of the shaft 28 is a crank 34having, in the present instance, two arms 35 and 36. It will be understood, however, that when so desired, the crank 34 can have a single arm.

Pivotally connected to the outer end of the crank arm 35, is one end of a piston rod 31 of a servomotor 38.

The servomotor 38 comprises a cylinder in which is mounted the usual piston 39 connected to the rod 31. If so desired the servomotor cylinder 38 may be pivotally mounted, as at 40, to a bracket 4| carried by the gate structure, so that said servomotor can swing about the fixed point 48 during operation thereof. This construction obviates the necessity of forming a slot in the pivotal connection 42 between the piston rod 31 and the crank arm 35.

A connection 43 for fluid under pressure is formed in one end of the servomotor cylinder, and a similar fluid connection 44 is formed in the other end of the servomotor cylinder.

The fluid connection 43 is connected to a pipe 45, and the fluid connection 44 is connected to a pipe 46.

The pipes 45 and 46 extend vertically on the downstream side of the gate, being secured to the gate structure by suitable brackets 41, 48, respectively (see Figs. 3 and 5).

Pivotally connected to the outer end of the crank arm 36, by a pin 49, is one end of a piston rod 58 of a servomotor 5|.

'The servomotor 5| is similar in construction to the servomotor 38 heretofore described, said servomotor 51 having two fluid connections 52 and 53, which are connected to the fluid supply pipes 45 and 46, respectively. I a

The arrangement of the servomotors 38, 5|,

and their fluid connections with the pipes 45, 46, is such that said servomotors are simultaneously operated to actuate the crank 34 when it is desired to shift th positions of the wheels 26 with respect to the gate.

For the purpose of controllin the supply of fluid under pressure to the chambers on the opposite sides of the servomotor pistons, the pipes 45 and 46 may extend above the top of the gate a suitable distance, to a point where a control valve device 55, such as the valve shown in Fig. 6, is located.

The valve 55 has a plug 56 formed with waterways 51 and 58, adapted to be registered with a plurality of ports 59, 68, 61 and 62, in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

The port 59 is connected by a pipe 63 to a source of fluid under pressure.

The pipe 46 is connected to port 60 so that when the plug 56 is in the position shown in Fig. 6, fluid under pressure will be supplied to the chambers 64 and 65, of the servomotors 38 and 5 I, respectively, from pipe 63, through waterway 51, pipe 46, and fluid connections 44 and 53, respectively.

Port 62 is connected to a sewer, by a pipe 66, so that when the piston chambers 64 and 65 of the servomotors are supplied with fluid. under pressure, piston chambers 61 and 66 of said servomotors will be connected to the sewer, through pipes 43, 52, respectively, pipe 45, waterway 58, and pipe 66.

When the gate is in lowered position, as shown in Figs. .1 and 2, and when the fluid under pressure is supplied to chambers 64 and 65 of the servomotors 38 and 5|, respectively, in the manner heretofore described, the crank arms 35 and 66 will be so positioned that the position of the axle 21 with respect to the shaft 28 is such that the seal 10 of the gate engages the seal I6 of the sluiceway, thereby taking the load off of the wheels 26. The bottom member 22 of the gate rests on the seal l9, so that the joint between the gate and the sluiceway opening is tightly sealed.

The pressure of the water in the sluiceway acting on the upstream face 24 of the gate tends to retain the gate sealed fast to the sealing members i8, and obviously considerable power is reuired to break the seal between the gate and the sluiceway when it is desired to raise the gate. In other words, the vertical movements of the gate require the application of considerabl power to overcome the friction between the gate seals and the sluiceway seals, due to the unbalanced water pressure on the gate. After the gate seals have been disengaged from the sluiceway seals, obviously lesspower is required to raise the gate. The present invention, therefore, contemplates providing a structure in which the power for breaking the seals is entirely separate from the power required of the gate hoisting mechanism.

When it is desired to raise the gate from the lowered position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, valve .plug 56 is turned from the position shown in Fig. 6, to the position in which ports 68 and 62 are connected by waterway 51, and ports 59 and 6! are connected by waterway 58.

In such position of the valve plug 56, servomotor piston chambers 64 and 65 are connected to the sewer, through pipes 44, 53, respectively pipe 46, port 68, waterway 51, and port 62. a

At the same time that piston chambers 64 and 65 are connected to the sewer, piston chambers 61 and 68 are connected to the source of supply of fluid under pressure from pipe 63, through port 59, waterway 56, port 6 I pipe 45, and branch pipes 43 and 52, respectively.

Fluid under ressure thus supplied to chambers 61 and 68 acts on the servomotor pistons 38 and II, respectively, with the result that the crank 34 is turned from the position shown by full lines to the position shown by broken lines, in Fig. 3. In this way the shaft 28 is turned through a limited angle, and due to the eccentric disposition of the axle 2'! with respect to the shaft 28, said axle is turned from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to the position shown in Fig. 5.

When the shafts 28 are actuated by the cranks v.36 in the manner described, the load is shifted from the sealing surfaces to the wheels 26 and at the same time the gate is bodily displaced laterally or upstream with respect to the fixed structure and seals I8 of the sluiceway a distance sufficient to break the seal between the sealing members in of the gate and the sealing members [8 of the sluiceway.

\ With the position of the gate thus shifted counter to the opposing water pressure in the sluiceway and unsealed or dislodged from the seals l8, and with the load now solely on the wheels 26, the gate hoisting mechanism (not shown) can be operated to raise the gate in well known mannor with a minimum amount of power, since friction has been reduced to a minimum.

It will be'understood that the gate can be disposed in any position within the sluiceway other than the fully lowered position shown, and that the servomotors can be operated in the manner heretofore described to shift the load from the wheels 26 to the seals, and vice versa.

' and associated parts.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to the present preferred form thereof. it is not desired to be limited there to since changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respect as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hydraulic gate having a seating portion for sealing the gate against a seat in the sluice, a plurality of wheels at each end of the gate for engagement with tracks, a separate eccentric mounting for each wheel, a separate servomotor wheels, each wheel being rotatably supported on associated with each wheel for individually operating its eccentric to turn the same in its mounting to shift the position of the gate with respect to the seat, means for supplying operatin fluid to each servomotor, and means for controlling the supply of operating fluid to each servomotor, each servomotor and its associated parts being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable independently with respect to each other, so that the load on the gate is transferred from the seat to the wheels and vice versa when the eccentric is turned by the servomotor, and so that the failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other Wheels to transfer the load.

2. A sluice gate having a frame of skeleton metal beam construction with an upstream facing and a downstream seating portion for sealing the gate against a seat in the sluice, a plurality of an axle eccentrically mounted in the end of the gate, said wheelsbeing adapted to run on tracks mounted in the sluice, a crank arm secured to each wheel axle to rock said axle individually with respect. to the other wheel axles so as to shift the'load on the gate from'the seat to the wheel and vice versa, anda servomotor for each wheel, each servomotor having a piston rod connected to said crank arm for individually operating the same, each servomotor being so constructed andarrangedthat all of said wheels are shiftable independently with respect to each other, so

thatthe loadon the gate is transferred from the :seat tothe wheels and vice versa; when the crank arm is operated by the servomotor, and so that vthe failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other wheels to transfer the load.

'3. A sluice gate having a downstream seating portion for sealing the gate against a seat in the sluice, a plurality of wheels adapted to run on tracks mounted on each side of the sluice, each wheel being rotatably supported on an axle ec- 'centric'ally mounted in the end of the gate, the

load-on the gate being shifted from the seat to the wheels and v ce versa when the axle is turned in its mounting, a crank arm secured to each wheel axle, and a servomotor associated with each wheel and having a piston rod connected to said "crank arm of each wheel for individually turning "the wheel axle whereby to shift the load on the gate from the seat, to the wheels and vice versa, 'eachsaid servomotor and its associated parts being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable simultaneouslyso that the load on the gate is transferred from the seat to the wheels and vice versa, and so that the failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other wheels to transfer the load.

i. A sluice gate having a downstream seating portion for sealing the gate against a seat in the sluice, a plurality of wheels adapted to run on tracks mounted on each side of the sluice, an individual axle for supporting each wheel, an eccentric mounting for each axle, the load on the gate being shifted from the seat to the wheels and vice versa when the axles are turned in their mountings, and a separate servomotor connected to each axle for individually turning each axle whereby to shift the load on the gate from the seat to the wheels and vice versa, each said servomotor being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable simultaneously so that the failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation 01* the other wheels to transfer the load.

5. A sluice gate having a seating portion for sealing the gate in the sluice, a series of wheels at each end of the gate, a rock shaft for each wheel, each said rock shaft being separately rotatably mounted in the end of the gate, a separate axle formed eccentricallyon each rock shaft for each wheel, a crank secured to each rock shaft, and a separate servomotor for each wheel, each servomotor having a piston rod connected to said crank to individually operate said crank to shift the wheel mountings laterally with respect to the gate to unseat the gate and vice versa, each said servomotor being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable simultaneously with respect to each other, so that the failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other wheels to transfer the load.

. 6. In combination with a seat, a gate having at the periphery thereof a seal adapted to engage said seat, a series of wheels at each end of the gate, a separate axle for each Wheel, said axle "having an eccentric rock shaft extending therefrom; a, separate mounting for each rock shaft, a crank arm fixed to each rock shaft, a separate servomotor for each wheel, each servomotor having a piston rod connected to said crank arm to individually operate the same, and means for controlling the supply ,of operating fluid to each servomotor so as to operate said crank arms to shift the gate laterally with respect to the seat g to unseat' the gate and vice versa, each said servomotor being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable simultaneously independently with respect to each other, so that the failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other wheels to transfer the load.

I '7. In combination with a seat, a gate having at .the periphery thereof a seal adapted to engage said seat, a series of wheels at each end of the gate, a separate axle for each wheel, said axle "having an eccentric rock shaft extending therefrom, a separate bearing for each rock shaft adapted to support the wheel so that the load on the gate can be shifted from the seat to the wheel and vice versa when the rock shaft is turned, the gate being disposed in spaced relatlon to said seat when the load is on the wheels, a separate servomotor for each wheel, means operatively connecting each servomotor to each rockshaft respectively whereby operation of the servomotor turns the individual rock shaft to shift the wheel so that the gate is moved laterally with respect to said seat, and means for controlling the supply of operating fluid to said servomotors, each said servomotor being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable simultaneously and independently with respect to each other, so that the failure of a, wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other wheels to transfer the load.

8. In combination with a, seat, a gate having at the periphery thereof a seal adapted to engage said seat, a series of wheels at each end of the gate; a separate axle for each wheel, each axle having an eccentric rock shaft extending therefrom, a separate mounting for each rock shaft adapted to support the wheel so that the load on the gate can be shifted from the seat to the wheel and vice versa when the axle is turned, the gate being disposed in spaced relation to the seat when th load is on the wheel, and separate flexible means operatively connected to each rock shaft for individually operating each rock shaft to turn the rock shaft in its mounting to shift the relative position of the wheel so that the load on the gate is transferred from the seat to the wheels and vice versa, said flexible operating means being so constructed and arranged that all of said wheels are shiftable independently with respect to each other, so that the failure of a wheel to function to transfer the load will not affect the operation of the other wheels to transfer the load.

HOWARD A. MAYO. 

